SINGAPORE 60's: ANDY's POP MUSIC INFLUENCE IS MY PERSONAL MUSIC AND MEMORY TRAIL. PICTURES TELL STORIES BUT I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO YOU TUBE VIDEOS, AUDIO TRACKS OR IMAGES. THEY HAVE BEEN UPLOADED FOR EDUCATIONAL AND ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES SO INFORM ME IF COPYRIGHTED AND THEY WILL BE DELETED. ANDY LIM (NOVEMBER, 2008).

Saturday, December 06, 2008

National Theatre Singapore 60s & Other Venues

The National Theater, Singapore, was one of the the places where it all happened and when guitars, singers and audiences screamed in unison.

This blog is a place to reminisce and contribute photographs. One of the objectives is to show what happened during our rock n roll days at the:

"The National Theater (add on/4th August, 2010)A landmark for the performing arts.
From the 1960's to the 1980's, the performing arts here were synonymous with the National Theater, a local landmark in its heyday.Situated at Fort Canning Park in River Valley Road, the 3,420-seat theater was the biggest performance venue in Singapore then, and had a revolving stage.

By the people, for the people:

It was dubbed 'the people's theater because Singaporeans from all walks of life had contributed to its construction.The plan to build a theater to commemorate Singapore's self-governance was announced in 1959. A year later, then culture minister S. Rajaratnam urged every citizen to contribute to the theater fund in a dollar-a-brick campaign.Donations poured in from all sectors - besides cultural associations and trade unions, the man in the street contributed as well.

Shopkeepers, hawkers and labourers pooled their money, while schoolchildren broke their piggy banks - all to help build the theater. A total of $850,000 was raised for the $2.2 million building, which was officially opened on Aug 8, 1963 for the South-east Asian Cultural Festival.Plagued by problems:

However, the fanfare over the theater soon gave way to criticism. Audiences complained that the open-air venue was impractical, letting rain and surrounding traffic noise in. It was also home to insects and birds, hardly ideal companions during a classical music concert.More than 20 years after it had opened, a team of engineers found the theater structurally unstable. Its 150,000 kg steel cantilever roof, suspended without pillars, needed reinforcements.

But renovating and enclosing the theater would mean parting with at least $12 million, a cost that was deemed too steep.Plans for an extension of the Central Expressway next to the building further stacked the odds against its survival.The theater had its last curtain call after an Indian musical on Jan 15, 1984 and was demolished two years later, despite pleas for its retention from sentimental Singaporeans."

I love John Keats' (1795-1821) To Hope, from his collection of poems under, Keats: Truth and Imagination. It's a book from my home library. He was well-known for poems like The Eve of St. Agnes, Ode To A Grecian Urn and others. He died at the very young age of 25. The hymn, Whispering Hope, another favourite of mine, was playing on YouTube and I was listening to the Haley Westenra's rendition. It was one of a number of songs composed by Septimus Winner (1827-1902). Jim Reeves made it famous in 1958. CLICK PIX

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JOHNNY HALLYDAY RIP 1943-2017.

He was one of the top stars in the 60's, followed Elvis' style and sang rockabilly numbers. He started off right and like so many singers then, followed The King impact. But what I like about Hallyday, as he grew in his own image, with his powerful voice, muscle-flexed stature, he became an original French rock star, not a rock-n-roll star. And he was outstanding - a man of his own before he died. CLICK PIX TO READ

CHRISTMAS WITH THE STYLERS 60's

Check out this home party where neighbours visit each other for a dance session with Singapore's most recorded band, The Stylers. Click Pix To Read

1985 VINYL RECORDING WONDERFUL ENCOUNTER: HE'S THE ONE

A group of late 60s and 70s Singapore musicians got together and recorded on Polygram ten songs in praise of God. It was, according to the sleeve back-cover, "a Gospel music adventure to spread His Word through a variety of popular music rhythms." CLICK PIX TO READ

CHRISTMAS SHOW REHEARSAL AT OCEAN PARK HOTEL 1960'S WITH WILMA TANG

We had our own well-known female vocalists too. I shared the same stage with WILMA TANG (image taken off a dance-ball magazine) when she sang at a charity dinner in the 60s. She was a hit those days as a professional singer and appeared regularly at the Ocean Park night club at East Coast Road, Singapore. CLICK PIX TO READ

CHRISTMAS TIME IS CHRIST TIME

A Passage from the Bible about why we celebrate Christmas. So read it carefully. CLICK PIX TO READ

7 - 10 PM. REMEMBER, REMEMBER 23RD DECEMBER

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH US. The concert, THE SILVER STRINGS with 4 other bands, will surprise and entertain both the older and younger generation as there is no better way to relive the local music scene! CLICK PIX TO READ.

AUSSIE 60'S POPS CHECK OUT

Steve wanted to interview some band boys so I managed the help of Mr Michael Bangar (professional guitarist playing rhythm for Silver Strings) to speak to him. We had our first session and a few days later, a larger group came. Steve brought with him some vinyl records. I list the artistes and songs covered on both Side A and B. All artistes were from Australia: CLICK PIX

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2,600 VIEWS+ LOCOMOTION: TAKE A RIDE WITH THEM. (THIS POSTING IS A READERS' RECORD HIGH)

Charlie Yap is a kind gentleman who, like a few friends, sends me WhatsApp posters and videos. Although he plays bass, I never realised he is the present band leader of this popular local group that is currently active in our clubs. When I asked him if he could tell me about his band, he willingly obliged. CLICK PIX TO READ

ANDY's 60's MUSIC IS

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(1) FOR THE DISCERNING READERS WHO WRITE FOR INFORMATION ASSISTANCE. WHY BUY EXPENSIVE BOOKS. THIS BLOG IS FREE. CLICK PIX TO READ

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(3) A Music Professor, A Symphony Orchestra Conductor, Charlie Lazaroo's Grandson, A German Who Sells Sausages In Chinatown, A British Lady Who Used To Live In Singapore and Others. Click Pix to read what they say about this blog.

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